[Daim meminta media menasihatkannya agar hadir dalam perhimpunan agung umno atau meletak jawatan sahaja. Nampak benar beliau begitu tersinggung oleh berita yang tersebar mengenai salahguna kuasa dan masa depan dirinya. Itu satu sindiran tajam buat penulis berita yang dikatakannya amat berkuasa.

Ada sesuatu yang tersembunyi di sini. Siapa yang menguasai media ini jika tidak orang Mahathir belaka? Siapa yang menulis surat layang dan memusnahkan lawan secara terbuka melalui pengaiban jika tidak Mahathir juga? Nasib Daim, Ku Li, Anwar, Tunku lebih kurang serupa... mereka hidup di zaman seorang penghasut dan pemfintnah terkemuka.

Dalam satu ucapan (amanat?) Mahathir pada perhimpunan pemuda Umno semalam (29/5/2001), beliau menyebut:

"Just because there is insufficient evidence against certain people, it does not mean that we cannot take action against those guilty of money politics." (- NST)

jika diterjemahkan ia berbunyi:

"Hanya kerana tidak ada bukti yang mencukupi terhadap seseorang, itu tidak bermakna kita tidak boleh mengambil tindakkan terhadap mereka yang bersalah kerana politik wang".

Ada sesuatu yang pelik di sini...
Mengapa Khalil Yakob dibiarkan walaupun sudah terang lagi benderang? Itu semua hanyalah kepuraan.... - Editor]

http://www.emedia.com.my/z/Current_News/BH/ Wednesday/Mukadepan/20010529221411/Article/ pp_index_html

Daim terus 'berteka teki'

Oleh Saidon Idris

KUALA LUMPUR, Selasa - Menteri Kewangan Tun Daim Zainuddin terus 'berteka teki' dengan media, terutama media asing berhubung kedudukannya dalam Kabinet.

Ketika ditemui pemberita selepas berucap pada perasmian Persidangan Pelaburan Perbadanan Kemajuan Industri (IDC) Afrika Selatan di sini, hari ini, Daim berkata, beliau memerlukan nasihat media bagi membantunya membuat keputusan, baik mengenai tempoh cutinya dan juga kedudukannya dalam Kabinet.

Menjawab pertanyaan seorang pemberita agensi media asing mengenai sama ada tugasnya dalam kerajaan bagi memulihkan ekonomi sudah selesai dan sudah tiba masanya bagi beliau meletak jawatan, Daim berkata, tugas dalam kerajaan tidak pernah selesai.

'Kerja tidak akan selesai. Walaupun saya mati hari ini, ada seseorang yang perlu meneruskan kerja ini,' katanya. Ketika ditanya sama ada kata-katanya itu adalah bayangan kemungkian beliau akan meletak jawatan, Daim berkata, beliau tidak pernah memberi bayangan, sebaliknya media yang berbuat demikian.

'Saya tidak memberikan bayangan, anda yang memberikannya kepada saya,' katanya.

Apabila diberitahu beliau pernah menyatakan mahu meletak jawatan, Daim berkata, lambat laun beliau terpaksa juga meletakkan jawatan.

'Ya bila sampai masanya saya terpaksa juga (meletakkan jawatan). Saya tanya anda bila masanya? Anda mahu saya meletakkan jawatan esok. O.K datang jumpa saya esok,' katanya.

Mengenai sampai bila beliau akan bercuti, Daim berkata: 'Itulah saya meminta nasihat anda.'

Tempoh cuti beliau selama dua bulan bermula awal April lalu dijangka tamat Khamis ini.

Sementara itu ketika ditanya sama ada beliau akan menghadiri perhimpunan agung Umno 21 Jun ini, Daim sambil bergurau berkata, beliau juga memerlukan nasihat media untuk memutuskan mengenainya.

'Anda nasihatkan saya apa yang saya patut buat dan saya akan buat kerana anda (media) adalah orang yang sangat berkuasa,' katanya.

http://www.emedia.com.my/z/Current_News/NST/ Tuesday/Frontpage/20010529172230/Article/pp_index_html

Dr M challenges Umno Youth to carry out three "unromantic" tasks

If accomplished, tasks will prove movement's commitment

by Sajahan Waheed and Adrine Sapari (news@nstp.com.my)

Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad has challenged Umno Youth members to accomplish three tasks which could determine the party's performance in the 2004 general election.

The tasks are to:

* set up Umno Youth operations room at all branches;

* increase Umno's membership;, and,

* ensure that all the its members are registered as voters.

If the tasks are fulfilled, the Prime Minister said it would display the members' commitment towards Umno's struggles.

"This is a practical test besides just shouting the war cry Hidup Melayu (Long Live the Malays)," Dr Mahathir said. "It is quite an unromantic way but this is how we could determine whether Umno Youth members are sincere in their struggle."

Dr Mahathir issued the challenge during a special assembly organised by Umno Youth at the Putra World Trade Centre. Also present was the party deputy president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Some 5,000 Youth members including executive council members, division heads, their deputies and division committee members, attended the event.

Dr Mahathir said with no allocation would be given to set up the operations rooms, branches would have to look into ways to finance the centre.

"I hope that I would be able to visit the branch operation centres during my next visit to the divisions," he said in the one-hour speech.

Dr Mahathir also urged Umno Youth members to have a good knowledge of democratic principles.

"You all (Umno Youth leaders) would inherit the party one day when the older generation are no longer around," he said. "You should equip yourselves with the necessary knowledge, including on how to react when winning or losing party elections."

"We have adopted democratic principles and determine who we want to elect as our leaders. But sadly, we have failed to understand how to use the democratic system that we have selected."

Reminding Umno Youth members not to resort to money politics, Dr mahathir said the party took a stern stance in fighting the scourge.

"That is why we took stern action against those found guilty of practising money politics," he said. "Support our move because the perpetrators are promoting an unhealthy and negative culture."

"They must be prevented from spreading as the damage is too wide for us to cover."

Dr Mahathir said when people are influenced by money, they would resort to "doing just about anything."

"Today, we are willing to sell our votes during party elections and one day later, we would even sell our votes during the general election," he said. "In that way, we would end up losing our self-dignity."

He also issued this warning: "Just because there is insufficient evidence against certain people, it does not mean that we cannot take action against those guilty of money politics."

Dr Mahathir advised Umno Youth members not to emulate the attitude of some senior members who could not accept their defeat in party elections.

"When they lose, they are disappointed and do not want to carry on with the party's struggles," he said. "Some even leave Umno. I hope that this would serve as a lesson."

On the other hand, Dr Mahathir told winners not to totally ignore the losers.

Losers too must be willing to close ranks and work with the winners, he said.

Dr Mahathir requested younger leaders to be patient while waiting for their turn to take over the party's leadership.

"Your turn will surely come," he said, "and you must prepare yourselves to lead the party and show a good example."

Dr Mahathir said urged Umno leaders at all levels to go down to the ground and mix with the people.